Handsomest Boys I've Ever Seen!

My lovely and talented friend, Dana, came over and took pictures of me and the boys a week or so ago.  She not only did this for me for FREE, but she was also VERY patient with my boys.  They were not exactly cooperative and REALLY just wanted to sit down and watch PBS kids that morning!  Mornings like that made me wonder WHY IN THE HECK WE WERE PREGNANT AGAIN?!  Ha!  And yes, I have those mornings!

I think these boys are the handsomest boys I'VE EVER SEEN, but I could be partial considering I was cut open to get them out!  I can't wait to see Baby no 3 and how he'll fit into this crazy bunch!

We're at 37 weeks and 4 days along.  Doing the serious count down now!  Every twinge and ache makes me hold my breathe for the possibility of labor or water breaking!  If your water has broken, you probably know what I am talking about.....  just something that is so unexpected and uck!  As an anal, uptight and planner type gal, I hate the unknown!  Kinda hoping this child has decided to stay until his due date!

Possessive of Thursdays?!

So, when we decided to switch Bubbie's schooling from 5 days down to 3, I realized that we had one free day a week.  Tuesdays are reserved for MOPS mtgs, the Steering mtg and then a playdate once a month.  Bubbie goes to school Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, so that left Thursdays with no plans.  I decided right then and there to listen to the small, still voice and mark it off the calendar every week.

This summer we went somewhere just about every day.  We either had a playdate or went to the park or had errands or appointments.  I mean, seriously, when I look back at our summer calendar, we were going non-stop.  I liked it.  It kept the boys busy.  I got to chat with friends and play with the boys while they were getting some energy out.  The more pregnant I got though, the harder it got to keep up that pace.  Around the time I started having difficulty moving as fast, Peanut became the man on the MOVE and by that I mean, a full fledged toddler!  It made things a lot more difficult.

There were two days this summer that were "PJ DAYS" and by that I mean, we did nothing, saw no one and went no where.  I'm sad to say, it was REALLY hard to keep those PJ DAYS!!!  On both of those days we had invitations to get together with friends.  I felt almost guilty for telling people no, but I also felt very possessive and frustrated that I had to explain that we needed a down day.  I realized that after that last PJ day that we desperately needed a down day more consistently.

So, Thursdays are our new down days aka PJ DAYS.  We go no where.  We see no one.  We do nothing.  I feel very strongly about this choice.  Does this mean it'll be harder to get together with friends?  Most definitely yes.  Will it mean we have days of loneliness and boredom?  I'm sure it'll sneak in every once in a while.  I am most definitely aware that this is something God has called me to do.  I have felt very strongly about simplicity in our lives over the last few months and slowly, but surely, the voice keeps getting LOUDER AND LOUDER!  I am sort of afraid that if I don't listen and sit back and enjoy this season of quietness, I'll regret it and the Lord will MAKE me sit down and be quiet.  I have even started to question some of my commitments..... but haven't withdrawn from any as of yet.  We'll take this "slowing down" process slowly and for now, Thursdays are ours!

Going, Going..... GONE!

Freedom is gone for good.... well.... not forever, but for a LONG, LONG TIME!

Date night/day went awesome!  I didn't take any pictures, because I didn't even think of it.  We had the best time eating and talking and just being lazy together!

We ate at REAL restaurants and ate slowly!  We watched a movie called Duplicity, which was good and interesting and worth $1.07 from our favorite RedBox.  We got to stroll around in Fresh Market without a care in the world- looking and smelling and pointing out yummy and gross things!  We did absolutely NO CHORES!  No dishes!  No picking up!  No nothing!  There was nothing to do!  We had gotten the house cleaned and laundry done on Friday.  Bubbie cleaned his playroom before going to Nana and Pops' house, so we literally didn't have anything to do if we wanted to do anything!  It was fabulous!  We did run an errand or two.  My sewing machine is giving me such horrible trouble, so we went to Joanns and took a gander at the machines.  We returned some stuff to Target and took a quick trip into Wal-Mart and Academy Sports.  We realized today that while eating at a yummy breakfast place that we hadn't been there in almost 2 years.  When Peanut was almost due, Nana and Pops took Bubbie for a night or two so that we could be alone "one last time" and we went to that breakfast place.  It brought back memories....  I am praying that we aren't back in that restaurant in ANOTHER two years preparing for ANOTHER baby!

Being alone with Hubbie made the thoughts of "what is to come" or "what is next" a little closer to home.  It really is NOT that much longer and the thoughts of how little time I have with only two little boys is starting to make me a bit antsy.  I really haven't worried too much about another c-section or the recovery, but the closer it gets here, the more I dread the whole process.  I hate the pain.  I hate the recovery period.  I hate feeling blah! and then on top of the pain or soreness, you have this newborn baby to feed and care for.  I am praying for peace.  I am also praying for health for the people that will be caring for our boys and also for our family.  It is "cold and flu" season- ALL READY- and the idea of not having my husband during this whole process is freaking me out!

So, we are ready- if he comes- we have everything we need.  God has blessed us with amazing friends and family.  We have received almost everything on our gift registry and its been amazing to feel the love and support and friendship from so many people.  I don't know what we'd do without so many wonderful friends offering to bring us meals and take the boys and help with chores.  Its just been fantastic how God has brought so many marvelous people into our lives!

I can't wait to meet our newest baby and to watch him grow up in this loud house of almost all boys!

I'm Off!

I am off for a fun filled day of girl friend time and learning!  The MOPS Steering team is getting together today to be spiritually refilled.  I had a BLAST at last years retreat and am looking forward to today too.  These retreats not only help us learn and grow in our walk with Christ, but also, it helps the Steering team come together.  I learned so much about all the gals at last years retreat.

I might leave early so that I can come home and take a nap.  Its date night tonight, so I don't want to be dragging by 7 because of my day - especially if we decide to go see a late movie, but it sounds like if I leave, I'll be missing some good parts.  So I'm praying that I have energy to do both today!  

Have a great weekend!

Deep Conversations with my Deep One!

While snuggling Bubbie into bed, this is the conversation we had.

B- I sure do love you a lot, Momma.

L- Well, I hope so, stinky pete!  I'm the only Momma you got! 

B- And Nana is your Momma, right? 

L- Yup. 

B- And BB is Pops' Momma, right?

L- Yup.

B- Who is BB's Momma?

L- Grandma Blank

B- Who is that?

L- She's BB's mother that went to live with Jesus a long time ago. 

B- Why did Jesus take her? 

L- Because thats what happens if you're older and you love Jesus.  He takes you to live with Him forever.

B- Well, I still love Jesus.

L- (heart MELTS!) I'm glad Bubbie. 

B- But Jesus hasn't taken me yet.

L- (Chuckle) I'm so glad.  I want a few more years with you. 

B- So when will He take me? 

L- Lord willing, long after I'm gone!  Now, lay down and go to sleep!

B- Okay- Good Night!

I walked out of that room a happy, happy Momma and had to tell Hubbie what just happened.  These kind of conversations are so precious and priceless to me and I think its a pat on the back from Jesus himself.....


 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ^[Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Date Night....

My parents offered to keep the boys one last time before Baby Bean arrived.  Oh, how I love my parents!  Not only because they love my boys and are my parents, but also because my mother is VERY aware of how stressful life can be with kiddos and how little quality time husbands and wives actually do get together, so she is always willing to watch the boys for a date night.

The date night is this Saturday night.  I cannot wait.  We are dropping the boys off and won't see them for a whole day.  We will have the luxury of not having to wake up with the kids and eating a normal breakfast without tending to the kids and going to church without fear of the kids needing us and being able to see a movie without the kids.  I could go on and on.... but I won't.  Just in case it gets jinxed!  There is a "flu bug" going around these parts, so I'm praying even harder for the health and safety of my children and family.

I really don't plan on doing much during our date "day" but just enjoying my husband's company.  If we go do something, that will be great, but ya know what?  If we stay in the house and just cuddle and watch tv and sleep, that'll be fine too.  I'm just ready for some alone time with my husband without a child NEEDING me.  And being able to talk without getting interrupted or having to jump up because of an accident will be great also.  I know it'll be a while before we have a WHOLE DAY away from any kiddos since Baby Bean will be a nursing baby, but this will hopefully recharge some batteries for us and help us make it awhile.

Lord willing this child will wait until AFTER date night/day to arrive.  I really want and need this time... so Baby Bean- stay PUT!

Asking for Prayers

I grew up with this family in my church and their 2 yr old boy was just diagnosed with brain cancer.  I am speechless.  I don't know what I would do if my child was diagnosed with cancer and started chemo within a week of finding out.  I think I would go into shock.  Just the thought makes me nauseous. 

Go read about it here at Dana's blog. 

Still Pregnant!

I went for my 36 week appointment yesterday and I am 36 weeks 4 days along. I got in record time- less than 2 hours! WOO HOO! I was able to make it home in time for lunch and naps- quite an accomplishment!

Last week my OBGYN's office noticed I hadn't had my Rhogram shot yet. I found out today that they've missed 3 of us.... NOT GOOD! I guess that made the doctor VERY wary, so she went through my medical history and read it all. Good to know that she's at least read it ONCE this pregnancy!!! I hate computers for doctors!

The baby is doing great. A very strong and fast heartbeat- I couldn't believe how fast and loud it sounded. He's definitely alive, as if I had ANY doubt with all the movements and flops and kicks. This child is still moving and still feels SO LOW. I never know whether he's about to break my water or the child will come poppin' out. Never had a baby this low. YOWZER! The doctor said that he is still head down, but no dropping as of yet. I go back a day before I turn 38 weeks, so we'll see what happens over the next week and two days.

I mentioned Baby Bean likes to ride low. I'll have the Braxton Hicks contractions pretty regularly. The pressure takes my breath away sometimes and I have to remember to breathe. The whole contraction he's just a' kickin' away and its a feeling I never felt with the other two. Just been interesting how different each pregnancy has been.

The other night I just KNEW my water was about to break. I can remember that pressure and then the sudden urge to pee that you couldn't stop (sorry if TMI). Thankfully, no, I did not leak on myself because I had just used the rest room, but I started praying fervently. I did NOT want that night to be "the night". I kept looking at Hubbie. He was so tired. We hadn't had a calm, peaceful day and he had JUST sat down after making bread and doing things around the house. I knew he didn't want to NOT get sleep that night. Not sure what was going on inside me that night, but since I'm still pregnant, its safe to say the Lord heard my pleas!

I've been begging and pleading for this pregnancy to just be OVER. Now that the end is SO close.... I kinda like the date that its at.... I mean, I wouldn't be against the doc telling me next week that they'd like to bump it up a week!!! Hee hee! So, I guess I wanna be picky- I want the c-section scheduled- no more emergency ones, but I want warning- not water breaking and having to rush and not have everything settled and done!!!! Yes, I know, I like to be organized and anal and crazy! I am definitely not ready to leave my boys for the walls of the hospital for a few days. I remembered the other day how much I HATE c-sections and the recovery. UGH! Its like I remembered "You mean I gotta do ALL THAT AGAIN?!" I'll do it gladly since its the safest way for me to get my baby out and I, of course, don't enjoy being pregnant longer than I have to, but still.... I'm not particularly fond of the c-sections or hospitals in general.

Took a pic in all my pregnancy, large-ness, glory- The heaviest I've ever been my whole life! I cannot WAIT to get this weight off me- UCK!





We're almost ready for you Baby Bean! Just give Momma and Daddy that one last date night for a while and then, I'm thinking, Labor Day would be a fabulous day to appear!!!

Gosh, I Miss This!

I miss worship services like this! I'm about ready to drive to Atlanta every Sunday(so not a possibility) and hear Fee and Andy Stanley every week!

The church search continues and I'm beyond frustrated and sad that our church is gone. I think my "grieving" process over our church is past anger and hurt. I think I'm at a place where I can now look at the entire situation and just be FRUSTRATED that the campus was closed. I wish I had HOLLERED AND YELLED AND SHOUTED when we saw signs of the possibility of it closing. It didn't have to close and we had such an awesome community of believers! It just STINKS! We are still VERY VERY confident that our church home is not the main church campus. We feel that God has answered that question several times for us, but its still sad. Bubbie is very sad about the whole thing still. He misses having a place to belong and misses his two buddies. He calls our old church his "first church" and asks every week, "Where are we going this Sunday?" This dude doesn't miss anything and I think its even harder searching for a church with him being almost 5 yrs old. I am REALLY not sure where else to go. We have tried just about every church that we have even thought would come close to what we want. There are certain things that we can "settle" for and then the closing of the campus made us very aware of things that we had "settled" on at the church and now that our eyes are "open" to other ways, we're realizing that those things WERE important to us..... How in the heck do you decide? I'm about ready to join a big mega church, sit my butt down in the pew every Sunday morning and just BE! I'm so tired of caring, but in other ways, when I hear worship services like this, I can't ignore what I miss. Oh, I miss this and crave this! We just can't find it and are completely lost as to what to do next.

Forgive me while I just complain, but I feel pressure from all sides to find a place and be put, but I just don't feel like its that easy. I think a lot of our friends don't understand why we care as much as we do or maybe why we're looking for whatever it is we are looking for. Some of our friends are clueless as to why we don't come to their church and other friends have been super supportive and open and just give us an open invitation to come visit.

As the arrival of Baby Bean comes closer and closer, less than a month now, I am so discouraged that we still haven't found a church home. I really wanted to find a place by this point. I know no place will be perfect or have everything that we're looking for, but how in the heck do you ever decide what things are ok to let go and not let go? Do we go to the church that has an awesome children's program, but Hubbie and I really don't like the worship service or preacher? Do we go to one of the places that has a great community of believers, but that lacks other things that we believe are important? How do you ever decide?

I'm just frustrated and I don't understand why we are in this position again? I asked Hubbie again on Saturday, "are we destined for a life without a church home?" I mean, again and again and again..... so completely frustrating......

Drool! Baby!

For a couple of years I have drooled over Kate's small, compact food processor. I, like Kate Gosselin, chop up veggies and add them to a lot of dishes. When I saw the episode a few years ago about Kate preparing her family for her tummy tuck, she had a small, compact food processor that she was able to keep on her counter top. I love my larger food processor, but because its so big and takes up so much space in the dishwasher, I tend to only use it once a year for our family's cranberry bread recipe- made at Christmas time.


While wandering through Target yesterday, I came across a small, compact food processor for only $7. WOO HOO! I had my yard sale money(more on that in another post!)- that I was determined to only spend on things we needed. Not like toothpaste, food, etc....but things that needed to be replaced or purchased.

So, my nice, new mini food processor is on the counter just waiting to chop up some carrots or peppers to be added to a meal! It'll also come in handy when I make Baby Beans' baby food! I love making baby food and this will save me the hassel of chopping!

Now I gotta sell my big one food processor to get rid of clutter!

Cravings!

With all pregnancies I think you have certain cravings. Mine have been all over the place and each pregnancy has been a little different. With Bubbie, I craved sweet things like candy and ice cream. With Peanut, I craved fruit, fruit and MORE fruit. With Bean, I have craved everything from fried chicken to chocolate covered raisins to coke with crushed ice! You name it, I've craved it!

The craving for the month for me is something that I hold close to my heart. My granny use to make these for me when I came to stay at her house. I don't remember Mom making them ever....and if she did, she didn't make them too often. It was always something so yummy that I only got when my Granny asked me what I wanted for a treat!

My Granny is a wonderful cook. Even Bubbie and Hubbie talk about things my Granny has made on our visits to see her and Papa. I can remember Thanksgiving and family meals with loads and loads of food and everything being so good that you couldn't fit everything on the plate!

I still smile when I think about her special spaghetti. Its kinda an "inside joke" but growing up she would make two special meals for me- spaghetti and roast beef with sides. I also use to tell Mom that Granny's spaghetti was SO special and SO good! I think I was probably 18 or 19 yrs old when I FINALLY learned her secret- it was the spaghetti sauce that she BOUGHT IN A JAR!!!! Ha! All those years I thought she had a special trick to her spaghetti and the WHOLE time it was just the jar of sauce! Boy! I felt silly, but it was so dang yummy spaghetti!

So, as I eat my yummy scotcheroos and share them with my boys, I smile and think about my childhood memories with my Granny.

Not Such Good News

Last Tuesday we found out some bad news. My grandmother, father's mother, has found out that her cancer is back. Her journey fighting cancer has been a long road- one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Grandma was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2004. I remember it so well, because I was pregnant with Bubbie. I can remember traveling up to Tennessee right before her chemotherapy was about to start. She was so full of life and her regular go-go self. Then, I don't think we saw her again until Christmas and Bubbie was a few weeks old. She, of course, didn't have much hair left and she was tired. She had had such a rough year with chemo and had said she wouldn't do it again. We were all very hopeful that she wouldn't have to face the choice of whether to do it again. Well, it came back. Again. And again. Its back now for the fourth time and each time, she's fought it. She's clung to Christ for strength. Her family, faith and friends have become even more important to her. She is such a wonderful example to me. She doesn't give up. She still has joy and love and hope. She knows her purpose in life and I've had so many countless people come up to me and tell me over the years what an awesome inspiration she is to them.

I don't know why she has this cancer again. Why can't she just fight it once and be done with it? Why four times? This time the cancer is a little scarier and we'll know more details in a few weeks. I know my grandparents- either set- won't be around forever. I am so blessed- SO BLESSED that my children KNOW both sets of their great grandparents. I wish we lived closer, but am so thankful that both sets are able to go and travel and still come down and see us often. I know many people cannot say that. Bubbie is old enough to remember things about each set and have a relationship with. I pray that each one of my grandparents will be able to hold Baby Bean- even if they can't watch all three boys grow up and get to know them, but for them to just meet them would mean the world to me. I think over the years, when my grandparents have faced different medical scares, I have breathed a quick prayer- "Please let so and so make it through this." I remember asking God years ago for my grandparents to all be able to see me get married. Its been seven years since Hubbie and I got married. Never did I think that I would have my grandparents watching me become a mother. Just surreal and an awesome blessing.

My grandmother has always been on the go. She does not stop. She is always doing something. This particular set of grandparents use to ride bikes with us and go hiking and swimming and take us to the beach. They were always moving and going and seeing new things. Grandma sews and paints and does crafts. Her and my grandfather keep going by doing tons of service projects and missions teams and small groups at church. I've never seen two "older" people with such an active schedule and social life. My grandparents still live in the same area that they both grew up in and they know EVERYONE. Its hilarious at how many people they know and talk to and my grandmother is just a go-getter! Cancer has tried to slow her down and in ways, age has played a part, but they still go to the beach and sight see and travel and take cruises and live life. I think that is probably the best lesson they could pass on to their family- even with all these medical scares over the last 5 or 6 years, they've still embraced life and decided that they would enjoy their days while they have them!

So, if you think about it, say a prayer for my grandmother. She has another difficult situation before her and I can't imagine having to go through what she has faced before her. Pray that she has the strength to fight this for good. Pray for the outcome of the upcoming tests and that they come back better than expected. We are ultimately praying for God to completely heal my grandmother and for whatever was found to be wiped out.

On My Mind!

Well folks... the official count down has begun. I am 36 weeks pregnant and READY! I'm huge. People think I'm WAY past due. I'm hot. I hate thinking every twinge or ache or "urge to pee" is a sign of labor!

Everything around our house is revolving around baby. Chore lists, to-do lists, errands- everything is about baby, for baby or for when baby comes! So what else can I blog about?! Bare with me people!


I bought more Babylegs! My husband is still in utter annoyance about my NEED for Babylegs, but I promised him that I made my last purchase of Babylegs..... for a while! Baby Bean now has 4 pairs and I think that is plenty. These are the last pair I purchased on BabySteals!


The room is coming together- slowly, but surely. I need to finish Peanut's twin bed bedskirt and then a valance for the room. Once I have those two things finished, I'll call it done! I did finish the canvases that I've been "meaning" to do for about a month or two. These are hanging up over the boy's beds. I love them!

I've been trying to do a project every day/night. Its been a long week, but thankfully, we keep a truckin' and we're getting it done. This weekend's project is a yard sale. I really hate doing the yard sale, but it must be done! Over the years, we've tried a few yard sales with very little success. Praying that we get rid of a lot of stuff and that we make a little money on our items.

MOPS Playdate

This Summer I was in charge of organizing the MOPS playdates. When I took the "job" of organizing the playdates, I wasn't that pregnant and it wasn't hot! Once I had the two a month playdates decided on and in the last newsletter, I began to realize that getting out and going in the heat and humidity with two kiddos was a little harder than I had thought! Thankfully there was only a playdate or two outside in the REAL hot, humid Georgia weather! I did survive, but they were not pleasant for me! I really enjoyed doing the playdates, because I was "the organizer" I was able to meet and greet the gals that were coming, so I kinda knew who was new or not. For a better half of the summer, it was just Peanut and me going to the playdates, since Bubbie was in summer school.


Tuesday was the last "organized" summer MOPS playdate and one of the gals had offered up her neighborhood pool. It was a really nice and kid friendly pool. I had decided that I wasn't going to swim unless it was a necessity for Peanut. Thankfully it wasn't, so I just sat on the side and chatted and watched the kiddos.

My friend, Sharon, who threw the shower for me, came and brought her son, a friend of Bubbie's. The boys had so much fun! Sharon brought her camera along and she got some WONDERFUL shots of the boys playing!

We had a fun summer with all of our MOPS friends and had lots of impromptu lunch outings afterwards. I love my MOPS friends and the support system I have. I know I could call any one of them if I needed help with the kids or advice or just a shoulder to cry on and they'd be here for me!

Looking forward to the MOPS year starting in a little less than a month, unfortunately, I'll probably miss a meeting or two with the new baby, but still looking forward to our new year with lots of new moms!

Doctors Appointments and Shots!

Today was my 35 week doctor's appointment. I've had my appointments canceled or rescheduled a few times in the last month or two, so I'm a little off schedule. Most of my appointments last from start to finish about 3 hours, but today was a rare day and I was in and out in less than 45 minutes- too bad I didn't get to go home! Over the last week or two I've had several people ask me if I have gotten the Rhogam shot yet. When Hubbie mentioned it, I thought, yeah, its coming up soon, but when Mandy said that she was 28 weeks and getting the shot, I knew that there must have been a mistake! Sure enough! Today my nurse told that they had overlooked that note on the computers and I needed to get it taken care of TODAY! Ugh! I really didn't plan on spending my whole day taking care of this, but I had to get it done. So, I got my blood taken, walked it up to the hospital, registered with them and then ran and got Bubbie, whose carpool line was early today. Then we went over to Nana's house to pick up Peanut and ran BACK to the hospital to pick up my shot, walked BACK over to the doc office and got the shot administered in my RUMP!

Geesh! I'm tired! Thankfully, again, I didn't have that long of a wait this morning to see my OBGYN. She was in a "hurry" to get through her patients since another doctor in the practice was waiting on her for a scheduled c-section at the hospital. The doc told me that the baby's heartrate is great at 166. He is head down, still high up, so I have not dropped. Just normal stuff. Blood pressure has been fantastic the whole pregnancy- very normal the whole time. God has definitely blessed us and answered our prayers and this pregnancy has been a normal one. I feel as though this baby is my first baby that is actually "preparing" for natural delivery. Too bad I can't do it! I've been told stories, but after two emergency c-sections, I wouldn't dare EVER try!

Gotta tell this funny story of how insane I am! Today, when in the waiting room, waiting to be called back, a gal, probably my age, came into the office. As I went back to my book, I over heard her tell the ladies at the front desk that she wasn't suppose to wait in the waiting room, but that her doctor had advised her to come back to the back since she was on bed rest. After hearing that, I decided to take another look at this gal- her legs were not swollen, her belly was MAYBE half my size and she was VERY whiny! Through the course of the morning, I learned that she was 27 weeks pregnant and on bed rest for "high blood pressure". What was her b.p. today? A very normal 122/70. Instead of her waiting, in the back waiting room with us other mothers, she told the nurses that she had to lie in the recliner. I then learned that she had to also do the Rhogam drill this am and instead of her PREGNANT BUTT walking up to the hospital, to deliver her blood and register, OH NO! she sent her mother to do it while she sat in the air conditioned examining room with her legs propped up in the recliner! HA! I had ABSOLUTELY no sympathy for this gal. She was young, tall, average build, very small-tummied and acting as if she was on death's door! Here I was 35 weeks pregnant, hiking up the small incline to the hospital and running around chasing 2 other boys while she just sat at home all day! :) Yes, forgive me, but I had NO sympathy for her!

My Baby Shower

Last Saturday two friends threw me an awesome baby shower. I think it was my best baby shower. I had wonderful friends, great food, awesome gifts and it was such a fun time to just be with friends and family and chat!

I don't think I can put into words how Ashley and Sharon and everyone who came- and even those who couldn't come- made me feel on Saturday. I have some awesome friends and I felt so loved and blessed. I have a wonderful support system with some fabulous friends and family! I am one lucky gal!

Since I'm all about honesty and truth and no holding back, HA!, had to swallow my pride and show this HORRIBLE pic! Not because it isn't taken well, but because of how HUGE my belly is! There is NO denying it though- I'M PREGNANT, people!!! 35 weeks pregnant and in all the pregnancy glory I can muster!!! By far, the largest I've been with any of the boys! I better have a more than healthy baby boy in there!

My mother, my dad's mother and Lu

My grandmother, my father's mother, found an old cloth diaper from her diapering days. Here I am showing my new prefold cloth diapers and the old prefold cloth diaper from the 50's.

Reading a sweet card from one of my dear friends that made the day so special

A really nice surprise from my MIL and SIL, a convertible car seat! Didn't think we'd get it and just put it on the registry as a "nice to have"! Will definitely be put to good use in a few months when Baby Bean outgrows his "baby carseat"!

One of my many gifts .....

I hate that I didn't get a picture with the party's two hosts- Sharon and Ashley! Just realized that and am so bummed! Shucks!

I have received so many wonderful gifts in the last week! One special package came from Kristin, my pen pal and now bloggin gal, she made each one of our sons a shirt! I can't wait to see them all together in their shirts! She has 4 kiddos and still has time to make handmade gifts!

My SIL, Jana, made me the most wonderful plaque to hang in the baby's room. (The top actually has Baby Bean's name- but Sharon was able to change that for me so I could share the pic with you!) She did a fabulous job and it brought tears to my eyes! I wish she could have come down for the shower- it would have made my day if she were there- but they live 10 hrs away!

Not only did I miss Jana, but also my Granny and lots of aunts and my other SIL and so many friends that couldn't make it- I missed each and everyone of them and am so thankful for their friendship and love and support in our lives! Y'all were definitely missed!

Full Weekend!

We had a wonderful and jam-packed weekend!

Saturday I had my baby shower and it was absolutely the best shower I've ever had and I think I've had 3 baby showers and 1 bridal shower.... I think..... it was just wonderful! Two gals put it on for me and they did a fabulous job. One of the gals even took pictures the whole time she was hosting the shower and she just had a baby too! Wonder Woman, I tell you! The other gal, my neighbor Ashley, is having her baby today, so she hosted a shower 2 days before having a baby! HA! These gals are super awesome!!! And I can't wait to see the pictures and be able to post ALL about my shower!!!

My grandparents were also in town this weekend, so it was nice to be able to spend time with them and for the boys to see them also. They've left now, but will be back here on their way back home later this week, so we get a special treat! We get to see them again- a few days later!

Definitely a great weekend....our friends and family were amazing and it has felt like Christmas around here the last few days with packages arriving by UPS and the gifts from the shower and its just been incredible how blessed and loved we feel by everyone's kind words, gifts and love to our family........ now, in only true LU- HYPER AND ANAL fashion- if I had just had someone at the house doing the laundry and cleaning while we were out and about having fun..... life would be SUPER TERRIFIC!

Broadway Musical- Rock Of Ages-Review

A few weeks ago I was sent the Rock of Ages Broadway Musical cd to review for One2One Network.

My first thought was, "Hmmm... a rock music broadway musical cd?" I grew up with a friend that loved "hair metal" and I was really afraid that it was gonna be really hard core hair metal! Not knowing exactly what to expect, I opened the cd, placed it in the cd player and hit play...... and was pleasantly surprised! I had heard and liked every song expect one. I did quickly realize that this cd was not one to listen to around Bubbie! It has bits and pieces of the Broadway Musical dialogue thoroughout the cd and it had a little too much language for kiddie ears. I definitely enjoyed the cd and will gladly add this to our collection!

Here is a little bit about the album-

New Line Records just hammered the in-store release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of five-time Tony Award nominated "ROCK OF AGES." For those of you not in the know, Rock of Ages is the new Broadway musical starring American Idol finalist ">Constantine Maroulis. Set in 1987 in a legendary Sunset Strip rock club, a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and they fall in love to the greatest metal songs of the 80's. The musical is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more.

Track listing
Just Like Paradise / Nothin' But A Good Time
Sister Christian
We Built This City / Too Much Time On My Hands
I Wanna Rock
We're Not Gonna Take It
Heaven/More Than Words / To Be With You
Waiting For A Girl Like You
Wanted Dead Or Alive
I Want To Know What Love Is
Cum On Feel The Noize / We're Not Gonna Take It (Reprise)
Harden My Heart / Shadows Of The Night
Here I Go Again
The Final Countdown
Any Way You Want It / I Wanna Rock (Reprise)
High Enough
I Hate Myself For Loving You / Heat Of The Moment
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Can't Fight This Feeling
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Oh Sherrie
The Search Is Over
Don't Stop Believin



A big thank you to One2One Network for allowing me to review this fun cd. Otherwise I would have NEVER gone out and purchased it! Great addition!

Not Blogging...

I have a million things I want to and need to blog about, but for now, I'm only interested in what my family is eating for dinner.

I will be back later this weekend with a review and also a post all about my baby shower!

To check out what we're eating for dinner, go here.

A Bug and 'da Bean

I have a cold. I guess its a cold. Not sure what else it could be called unless its one of those LOVELY pregnancy drainage, stopped up, feel like crap things. It could be that. I haven't had "one of those" this whole pregnancy. I had the drainage and congestion crap with Bubbie's pregnancy. Either way. I am drained. I'm already tired and running on "E", but then add to it a sore throat, not sleeping that great because of heartburn or the constant need to swallow or cough. UGH! Just complaining here! Hoping it'll pass quickly. My grandparents are coming into town this weekend. We are very excited to see them and I am glad they had already planned on being here this weekend since I have a baby shower on Saturday. Two of the loveliest and sweetest gals are planning the shower for me. I am still in shock and awe of their genuine kindness, dedication and love for me and my little family. I never thought I'd have a shower with Baby Bean. But, anyway, I need to be feeling grrreat! for the shower! I'm glad that none of the boys have got whatever I have, but still kinda stinks that Momma can't take a day to lay in bed and sneeze and cough and be lazy. Oh well.... when I'm old and my kids have all grown and left home, I'll wish I could have a sick and snuggle day with my kids!

Cloth Diapering Has Been A Journey....

To say that our cloth diapering experience has been a journey is quite the understatement. Man! I've talked to SO many people. I've read so many reviews, websites and articles. I don't know if I've ever researched something so extensively as I have this cloth diapering stuff. Geesh! We started off trying the prefolds and covers.

January- You can read about our first day here.

Since I was having all-day-sickies, I think I was turned off by the smell of cloth diapers in general... especially the prefolds. After that day or two, I didn't have a waste can for the diapers. I didn't have a wetbag. I really didn't know WHAT I was doing, so I kinda let the idea fizzle a while. I would chat with other cloth diapering mothers. I read a lot of reviews on blogs about different brands and designs. Then a friend asked me if I had decided her or not to cloth diaper. I was still on the fence.

July- You can read about my thoughts here.

I was really torn. My main objective was to spend less money on diapering the two babies of our family. I had done the "cloth diapering calculator" and since I don't spend a whole lot of diapers for Peanut, it really came out to be about equal. Now, if I had cloth diapered Peanut since birth, I would have saved money, but really, not that much. So, I began to do my back and forth thinkin'. I really wanted someone to tell me- this is what you need to do, this will save you money, buy this, this and this, and I REALLY wanted Hubbie to tell me "yea" or "nay". My Hubbie is super supportive and he was on board with diapering on children either way. He just wanted me to be happy with the decision. ARGH! I love that he is ULTRA supportive, but I needed some help!

So, anyway, when I wrote the post in July, I was pretty determined to buy Urban Fluff diapers- just a whole bunch and that be the end of it. Once I decided that Urban Fluff were our diapers of choice, I decided that we needed to do another run of all our cloth diapers. No matter whether it turned out to be a catestrophe or a success- we needed to begin the process! So, we did it. I used all of our cloth diapers in the house and cloth diapered Peanut for 2 days. I was able to go 2 full days in between washing and I could have really gone into the 3rd day. I would have just had to wash and dry by lunch time. After a day or two, my Hubbie came to me and told me he was in love with prefolds! HA! What?! My husband had an opinion?! I was shocked! I was amazed! Woo hoo! I got some feedback!

A few days later, I wrote this.

Yes, part of my hyperactive-ness is a lack of decision making. I seriously think I have Adult ADD. I seriously have it bad. I think being pregnant and having more of a flighty brain than normal isn't helping anything either!

So, since July 23rd we have been cloth diapering "exclusively". We were cloth diapering at nights, but if Peanut slept a little longer than normal or if, dare I say it, we kept him in his room just another 5 minutes, he tended to be a little damp around his pj bottoms, so we've decided to cloth diaper during the days and put a disposable on him at night. If we've been "too lazy" to get the cloth diapers out of the laundry, we'll just throw a disposable on him. I've found that washing the diapers isn't the "difficult" part. Its actually kinda fun to get them all clean and fresh and ready to go. The most difficult part for me is remembering to go get them from the dryer and have them ready, in Peanut's room, on the OTHER side of the house so that when we do change his diaper, there are diapers there! I know- LAZY! We haven't gotten a wetbag yet, so we haven't cloth diapered him outside of the house. For church and errands and Mother's Day Out, we're using disposables. I am- take a DEEP breath all you cloth diapering moms- STILL using disposable wet wipes. I know! I know! I'm already washing the diapers- to throw a nasty wash cloth in with it isn't that big of a deal, but ya know, I'm just not ready for that step yet. Getting the rag ready and then filling something with water or using a spray bottle or.... yada.... yada..... one step at a time people! ;) I'm just not ready. I'll continue to spend the $12 a box on a "booty" load of wipes and throw them away. I have not purchased a spray wand and right now, we're okay without it. If I see that we need it with the new baby's diapers, we'll invest in one QUICKLY. Right now we're using a normal lidded trash can from Target- can't beat $9 dollars. I still need a wetbag for the trash can. We're just using a plastic bag with baking soda in it. What we are using works for us right now.

So, NOW the best part of the blog post, HA!, you ready?! I went on Ebay a week or two ago and did some searching for cloth diapers. I just wanted to see what was out there. I found an auction for 3 Kushies newborn (all-in-one) diapers. I won that! They came last week! They are super duper cute and little and can't wait to have those on my precious new baby. Then, last week, I also used my Baby-Obama-Money on a Ebay only store, cloth diapers from China, called Babyland. I won the auction- 15 diapers for less than $50 dollars. They are one size- cute colors. We've been using those for the last two days and so far, no problems. I was VERY nervous about using diapers that have been reviewed VERY little outside of Ebay. They have glowing recommendations on Ebay though. Fast shipping. Great price. I figured I'd never know until I bought some! I have noticed that you have to really tighten the diapers up. Not sure why, but I'll think that the diaper is secured and then later on notice that the diaper has leaked because the insert has adjusted itself. I don't see it being a problem with the actual diapers- maybe more a problem with the inserts... or maybe I was just going too long in between changes. We'll see. Still trying to figure out if they are good or not... of course, the only way to REALLY know is time. I washed them and no holes, no damage.

So, there you have it.... my cloth diapering journey. About 8 mos. During that time I've gone back and forth over A LOT of diapers. Two weeks ago I was almost sold on gdiapers because of a terrific sale, but the longer I looked and the longer I thought about it, it just wasn't the "best" deal I could get. I am still going to use prefolds on both boys. I need to get some prefolds for Baby Bean and some covers. Oh and the wet bags, but besides that, I think we're good on diapers until Baby Bean grows a little.

Bubbie's 1st Day of School

Bubbie started his first day of school yesterday. He had a great time and came home full of stories. Although, after a while he told me to stop asking questions. His words were "Momma, I'm done talking!" He definitely missed his brother and his trains and was very excited to hear all about our day away from him. Yet another reason why I'm glad we only enrolled him in 3 days a week. My Bubbie needs time at home, to play, and enjoy the 4 yr old life!


Peanut and I had a good day. I got some stuff done around the house. Peanut helped me. He wandered around aimlessly looking for and calling out for his precious Bubba. Poor soul! I think he's actually teething, which has turned out to be a slow, painful process for all involved. Those last few are just having a terrible time coming in! Anyway, back to our day..... before I knew it, it was time to go pick him up in the.... drum roll please.... carpool line! Yes, this school has a carpool line. Thank Goodness! If y'all have never had a carpool line and then are able to USE a carpool line, its a relief and a miracle and a Godsend. Last year I had to get Peanut in and out of the carseat EVERY school day for the short walk to Bubbie's classroom. Rain or shine! Cold weather or hot weather! Didn't matter what the weather was, it was a hassle! I was so bummed when I found out that there was NO carpool line! I can't imagine doing that with a newborn, a toddler and Bubbie twice a day, three days a week! We'd have to leave the house 30 mins early to get the kids in the stroller. I can barely carry Peanut a few feet right now with my HUMUNGOUS belly, so the carpool is a wonderful, wonderful invention!!!




I'm thrilled that the school year is here. I am excited for this year and for my Bubbie. I love the teacher. I love her style of teaching. I love that Bubbie is getting to learn about God and the Bible and that Jesus loves Him at school. We are praying that the Lord pours His love and mercy and grace on our family, in all aspects of our life, but especially in the sickies department. I'm already prepared for the first cold attack.... which usually arrives a week or two after school starts. I am dreading the first stomach bug, but those are unavoidable. Again, with a new baby on the way, just praying for God's mercies on our family- health wise- for the next few months!




*Note: These photos are SO not staged. His expressions crack me up! I tried to get a "good" shot of Bubbie in his classroom, but he was in a daze with all the activity going on around him and getting to FINALLY touch his school supplies!

One of Lu's Crazy Purchases

I hate to admit it, but I did... yes, I bought something that could be categorized as frivolous. Don't hate! Hear me out first! I contemplated this purchase for a day or two. I kept wondering- is this a good choice? Every answer kept coming back as "YES!", "BUY IT!"........ so I did!

About a month ago I saw a Little Tikes Jumpin' House for sale on craigslist. Y'all know I LOVE craigslist and have saved a TON of money buy buying some great, used kids items for the boys Christmas' and birthdays. Well, I felt like this purchase was no exception. The owners of the jump house had it listed for $70 and the original sale price was$249.00. A great buy, but still, a nice chunk of change for a "toy". I finally talked myself into the purchase for this reason-

When planning Bubbie's 4th birthday party last year, we had our first ever dilema. Where do we have his party? It was cold and rainy that weekend and of course, its December in Georgia, which means you NEVER know what the weather will be. The week before was hot and we were wearing shorts on Thanksgiving. The day we went home from the hospital with Bubbie, it was 70 degrees. And, of course, on Bubbie's actual birthday last year, it was cold and rainy. Oh and our house. Our house is a decent size- not small, but no where near large or roomy. We don't have a dining room, by choice, so we only have one table. If we were to have even 5 of Bubbie's closet friends over and then have their parents over, in December, we would probably be stuck indoors AND not have room for everyone- even if we just had kids, we just don't have that many chairs/space. Which is why I started to price a jumpin' rental or a jumpin' inflatable business for us to have a party there. I quickly learned that those places are out of our price range. They wanted around 200 dollars and it didn't include any of the extras like food, cake, etc. Just for one party- it was going to be over $200. We love our son, but I'd rather buy him $200 worth of wooden trains before spending that much on a party that will last no more than 2 hours. Yes, he will have memories, but he's 4, I think he'll be FINE! So, we went with Chick-fil-A, which was a nice option. A lot cheaper. It was very difficult, though, for the kids to play with the Christmas shopping crowd in the store and I felt like I was constantly counting heads or helping a child(more than likely my own) with something, so I really couldn't chat with the parents or take pictures.

I figured, if we can use this jump house for 2 birthday parties, we'll get our monies worth out of it. We'll just do simple jump and play party at the house with hamburgers and cake and invite just a few people over. We can always sell it on craigslist if we decided that we aren't using it or if we need the moo-la bad enough.







The boys seemed to enjoy it! I know Bubbie is super excited about having a "jump" party! I hope to get many more good jumps out of it before it gets too cold to enjoy it......which I don't think it'll be too difficult considering the fact that we're in GEORGIA and we rarely have seasons. Oh and it'll be hitting 101 degrees today! YEAH! (Can't you tell that I'm thrilled!?! )

Book Review- Through The Storm by Lynne Spears

My lovely friend, Dana, told me about 9 months ago to sign up with Thomas Nelson Publishing to do book reviews! At first I was hesitant. I thought- I'm not a writer! I, of course, didn't think I'd get "approved" to do this, but I was thrilled when I received my first book two weeks ago!

My first book to review was entiteld Through the Storm by Lynne Spears.

I was very eager to read this book, because of who it is written by. The mother of Brittney and Jamie Lynn Spears wrote this heartfelt and very open book about her life, her marriage and her children's messy lives in the spotlight.

While reading this book, I definitely got a sense of what was important to Lynne Spears, which was her family. She is a mother and a friend. I didn't feel as though she thought she were better than other people- very laid back and down to earth. She has had money issues, an awful marriage ended in divorce and lots and lots of anguish from losing several close family members. I knew by the end of this book that this woman does believe in a Heavenly Father and wishes with all her heart that her children would become saved, which was a nice to see. The book was an easy and quick read. I didn't feel like she made excuses for her children's mistakes and she spoke openly about the most public and heart wrenching mistakes- the teenage pregnancy of her youngest daughter and the loss of control and "mental state" of her middle daughter. I especially liked the last chapter. She went into detail several mistakes that she made as a mother and that could have perhaps caused some of the traumatic changes in her children's lives. I'm not gonna say that her children couldn't have chosen differently, but its always nice when people in the spotlight open up and say "I'm human! I made mistakes!" It definitely reaffirmed my beliefs on being a strong, tough love parent. Not that your children won't rebel, but perhaps, if she hadn't been so trusting i.e. a friend to her children, they wouldn't have gone astray, but it was nice to say a parent being THAT open with her mistakes, struggles and the issues in her life.

After reading the book, I felt like I had a little more compassion on their family. I don't think I really felt SORRY for Brittney or her family at any time. I think I've always been kinda indifferent about it. Kinda like, it doesn't affect me, that stinks, but oh well, moving on! I guess now that I've read the book, I have more of an understanding of how the family got to the place that they are at now.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. Like I said, it was good, short read. I think it made me a little more aware of people in the public spotlight and what they face sometimes.

To check out the book, go here.

Because A Momma Can!

I'm posting these for no other reason than because I CAN!

Our neighbor Ashley received the sweetest gift from her Hubbie- a new camera! She then loaned us her "old" camera. We've enjoyed playing around with the settings and deciding if we like it or not.

Tidbits for the New Year!

I'm tired today, y'all! Thankfully we were able to just hang around the house on Wednesday and then on Thursday we soaked up some of the yummy summer sun at the pool with some MOPS friends.

This morning, I had to attend Bubbie's preschool orientation, so my loving husband stayed home with the boys so that I could go alone. I was able to meet Bubbie's teacher afterwards. She seems like the sweetest lady. She taught for 30 yrs in the public education system here in town, then retired and decided that she wasn't ready to quit teaching, so she began to teach at this local church's preschool. I met Bubbie's new teacher at registration/ Open House back in January and I loved her style of teaching and all her answers for my questions. I am really looking forward to Bubbie's new school this year. I had so many reservations and never really felt God's peace about our schooling decision until we made Bubbie's switch from 5 to 3 days and now, I have such a wonderful peace about the school, his teacher, the administration..... I just have absolutely NO worries about leaving Bubbie or Peanut there. After the orientation, I went home, we ate lunch and Hubbie went off to work. The boys and I headed back to school for Open House. Bubbie's room was filled with decorations for a circus themed party with cookies and punch and games and prizes. Both boys enjoyed themselves. Bubbie was very happy that he left with a balloon. Then we went across the hall to Peanut's room. I am thrilled to have found out that Peanut's teacher from the summer school is the same teacher for the school year! She is the sweetest lady and has the most loving disposition. Peanut has no problems going to her and loved exploring his new room and all the new toys.

All in all, it took a long time for us to decide on a preschool. We had our issues with school last year. We loved the teachers and the location, but there were other things that just never set right with me... and the constant getting sick and then Bubbie being diagnosed with severe constipation.... just became a burden to take him to school, for him to only get sick every other week. I definitely missed Bubbie being in school once we decided to keep him at home, but the bond that Peanut and Bubbie have is so special- I'm glad I gave the boys more time to play and be at home. Bubbie has done wonderfully at "baby" playdates and has grown in so many ways since January. A lot of times I look at the preschool curriculum and think- Gosh! My child already knows all that!- but I know that there are so many other things that Bubbie will learn at preschool. He is in the same classroom as a good buddy of his from the summer program and has two MOPS mommy's kids in his classroom as well, so I know he's surrounded by some good kiddos.

I'm looking forward to this year. I really can't believe that its already upon us. I've been wishing and hoping and praying for these days to get here and now that its here- I want this weekend to crawl by! I know that once school starts, all our other activities will start and our weekends are jam-packed and then Baby Bean will be coming and we'll be beginning a whole new chapter! I'm ready, but I'm not...... I'm as ready as I'm ever gonna get, so I feel like let's get this show on the road!!!!

The Classy Closet Swap

I recently signed up to do a Blog Swap through The Classy Closet! I have heard of them, but didn't really know what it involved or how you exactly "swapped" blogs for the day!

I was paired up with Liseth from ChicMommyUSA and was excited to get started. Unfortunately, I forgot the deadline which is why I am posting Liseth's post a little late! Liseth's site ChicMommyUSA- Holisitic Living for Today's MOM has some wonderful blog posts. Oh and guess what Etsy lovers- she even has her own Etsy shop and loves to sew! I have already added her blog to my google reader and will look forward to reading more from this Momma of 3!

So, without any further delay, here is my guest writer, Liseth, from ChicMommyUSA.

The Adventures of a Very Crazy Mommy!

During the beautiful but yet overwhelmingly hot summer days in Miami, I tend to seek either indoor places or at least “climate controlled” areas where I can safely keep an eye on my kids while they have fun and I can maintain my sanity without going into heat shock. For this reason, as boring as it could sound, I usually take my kids to the mall for a socializing walk, some gelato and a movie.

There was a very special outing that got me thinking a lot, and this is more or less how it went that day:

After rounding up the kids, the baby bag, the extra diapers, some extra snacks and maybe a toy or two for the 15 minute drive, we got ready and head over to our favorite mall. There among the multitudes, comes this mommy with an oversized car she really doesn’t like much, an oversized double stroller that takes all you got to maneuver through any door and last but not least, a little something hanging from her chest in a weird sack! yeap! Another baby in a sling.

I start walking happily with my three kids making sure they don’t jump out the stroller when moving, or assuring they are not poking at each other’s eyes while I look inside my purse because I think I may have forgotten the diapers in the car...mumbling through a fake smile to sit still!! when all of the sudden I feel something weird... like when someone is staring at you! So, I stopped and I decide to look up... and they there are! A group of young couples giggling and pointing in my direction. Since they were so passionate about what they seam to be talking about, I thought to myself, Hey! may be the mall has clowns today! I had to look back to see if they were coming! Hahaha to my delight or my humiliation they were staring at me! I was the Clown and my family was the Circus!!!

For a moment I did not know what to think so I just kept walking and minding my business but everywhere I looked there was someone looking at me and either saying “Aww poor thing”, or gigling. I tried not to get upset but it bothered me a little.

While waiting at the movie theater, I realized that most families had only one or two kids, and that most of them had a mom and dad. So within that equation I was certainly the odd one. A single parent with three kids under the age of 5 venturing by herself to the movies seamed to be a little too crazy.

Well, crazy or not, planned or simply thrown into this circumstance, life by myself with my three little kids it is not odd, or out of place, or just plane insane. It is the life I have, I love and I will treasure forever. It has lots of funny moments, millions of kisses, and trillions of hugs. It certainly takes all my energy, my endurance and all the patience I can get. Sometimes I finish my day as the best mom ever, and some other ones as the Crazy Mad Woman that wants to eat little children! But with all and all, the stares and the giggles, I don’t feel weird, I feel blessed. I don’t feel abandoned, I feel accompanied, and most importantly, I love the fact that every night I get lost in the middle of tiny hands and tiny toes fighting for my covers and my love.

Forget the Circus! We have all the fun here at home!!

Blessings to you too,

Liseth

Chic Mommy USA

www.chicmommyusa.blogspot.com

www.chicmommyusa.etsy.com

For more information on The Classy Closet or other future blog swaps, visit here. Also, thank you again to our guest writer today, Liseth! Please comment, check out her Etsy shop and visit her blog here to check it out and to read my blog post!

Still Around! And Catching Y'all Up!

We are still here- healthy and happy. Baby Bean is still growing at an alarming pace and the two other rugrats are still keeping me quite busy.

Sorry to have left everyone in a state of curiosity after my last post. Found here. I think I'm finally ready to write about the last month. Today I am semi-emotionally stable! (Laughing here! I've cried a lot over this situation, but I think because it just isn't fun and I'm pregnant!!!) A little over a month ago, Hubbie was getting ready for work and he got an email on his phone. All I heard was "GREAT!" in a very sarcastic tone. I was worried, of course, and asked what happened- knowing the email was from work. He told me that every employee at his job received a pay cut. UCK! What person wants to hear that?! Then on top of the pay cut, knowing we are going to live off of one income and adding an additional person in a few months- it just wasn't great timing. Thankfully, the company gave us a month to let the amount soak in and for Hubbie and I to "prepare" for the change in finances. Like I've said plenty of times, this isn't anything new. We've lived on this income before. We've lived on A LOT less. Thankfully when we did, we didn't have 2 little boys (the first time) and when we did, we didn't have two "eaters", so, of course, this makes everything tighter. Not sure about y'all, but I hate HATE HATE HATE living tight. We've been there and I know what its like to cringe every time you spend money. I hate that. I hate questioning every expense and going over it in my head. I think I probably become a little obsessive- at times- about it.... but that is my job. Hubbie provides for us and I gotta figure out how to make it stretch and do what we need it to do. So, anyway, thankfully, the Lord had already convicted me about some of our spending habits and the amount of STUFF we have. Found here. We had already changed the budget in certain areas and surprise! surprise! its the exact amount of our "new" budgeted amounts. Funny how God works, huh? Still, not happy about it, but I can still see God's hand even in the midst.

So, a month passes and Hubbie and I anticipate the change in salary with much "chagrin". Then, on Thursday evening Hubbie receives another email from the "higher ups" (starting to not like this email system!) and requests everyone to be at a meeting the follow day. Poor Hubbie. He feels already "defeated" and down about the situation and the stress that it has caused me/us. So, we wonder and speculate all evening. I tried to keep a "happy" face for my husband, but it was difficult because all I wanted to do was crawl in bed and cry! I had no idea. Would there be layoffs? More pay cuts? I had already told Hubbie that we seriously COULD NOT do another pay cut. The next step would be a second job for Hubbie and we certainly didn't want to start that with a new baby coming. Everything extra had been taken.... so, we waited until meeting time. I spent my evening and morning searching Scriptures, praying and requesting prayers. I desperately need God's comfort and peace and not only for myself, but for my hard working husband. More than ever, I wanted God to comfort and give him peace. So, I didn't call Hubbie all day- knowing that that would only annoy him and awaited his phone call after the meeting. I finally talked to him around lunch time and he said he had an idea what the announcement was and he assumed his job was safe. Thankfully, that was the case. Unfortunately, there were layoffs. 9 people at my husband's company were laid off. I had a hard time rejoicing knowing that it could have been us. I think it took me a few days to be able to really say- THANK YOU LORD! for saving my husband's job. Not because I wasn't thankful. I prayed and thanked God a lot in the hours after I heard the news, but my heart ached for those 9 people and their families.

At the meeting, the company heads gave a clearer idea on what is going on and gave some promises to their employees. It gave me a little reassurance for the future, but at the same time, things do change, so I won't hold my breath. (I don't mean that disrespectfully, I just can't be as naive about job security as I was, I guess.) I am very thankful my husband still has a job and that God answered our MANY, MANY prayers. I can't say that I'm glad that all of this has happened, but in the midst of it, I've begged and pleaded with God for this "test" to be over. I know He's doing something wonderful and fantastic through all of this. I know God has a plan. Its just hard, being in the midst of it, to see it and live in it. God has been awesome to give me comfort during this time with Scriptures and many songs that have "popped" into my head at just the right time. Especially this one-

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I know God has a plan. I know God has been watching over us this year. So many things that I felt so sure about at the beginning of the year have "fallen" through and now, little by little, I see pieces of God in the midst of things "working out". Its funny how things have changed, but I know that God is molding and doing something in the midst of so many things not being the same as they were 9 or 10 months ago.

So, like I've said before, this year has been so full of really HIGH HIGHS and some low lows. God is still there. God is still answering prayer in a mighty way. I'm just praying that this trial is short and that we "pass the test" and we can move on!

Onto a new topic, shall we..... Baby Bean. We finally have a d-day. Unfortunately I wasn't able to "pick" the date like I was with Peanut (not like it mattered). I have NEVER EVER EVER gone into my scheduled c-section at Day Surgery. I always go into labor before that appointment, so I am praying and hoping that I won't have to wait until the scheduled date. I am 33 weeks and 4 days along and I look like I'm...hmmmm.... about 42 weeks! No lie. Everyone thinks I'm like due yesterday. I have pains and strange movements and things going on with this pregnancy that I have never had the "privilege" of experiencing with the other two. Like dropping.... I've never dropped. My two boys- one breech and one placenta previa- couldn't drop. Now, my belly, rests on my thighs when I sit down and I can't sit up straight! This is probably REALLY common for other pregnant moms, but me- never had this happen before, so getting down on the floor to clean or to play with the boys is next to impossible! So, I waddle, have this HUMONGOUS belly, its hot and.... oh yes, I have sharp shooting pains up and down the back of my legs! Yes, thank you sciatic nerve pain!!! So, you could say "I'M DONE!" To be nice, don't even ask me how I'm feeling, let the look on my face say it all and then DON'T ask!! :) So anyway, my next appt is next week and then after that it'll go to an every week appointment. I'm trying to really remember every baby kick or movement- just in case this is the last. I know that if it is the last pregnancy, I'll be really sad that this chapter is over. In other ways, I think I'll be glad to stop "starting over" again. Different feelings, but I am ready to meet this baby boy!

More baby talk..... I am in the nesting mode now...... My fabulous Hubbie got the bottle of bleach out and scrubbed our two bathrooms. To give a little background, we rent our current home. Its fabulous, a God sent, the best price for what we get, but.... we have a few "unlikeables". First of all, the person who lived here before- we have now found out- was a single, working mother. I don't think she had much time or made much time to clean and the bathrooms show it or smelled it...... Several times I have gone in, with my bleach bottle, a mask and a scrub brush and every so patiently scrubbed in between each tiny tile that covers our bathroom floor. Yes! We have THAT tile. The TINY TINY tiles and grout in between EACH one that is gross! Anyway, the cleaning only seems to last for such a short time. The last time I tried I was VERY newly impregnatned and I tried to do out bathrooms. I about killed myself and I wasn't doing such a great job because I was trying to do it quickly (so that I wouldn't kill myself). So, I pleaded with my husband for months to do the job before Baby Bean showed up! He finally did it and its like I live in a new house! Its awesome! I don't smell a smell when I walk into our bathrooms. There are still "nastinesses" around the bathrooms- like the poor painting job or the huge holes in our grout around the tile in the tub, but those can be fixed or lived with. I love using a clean bathroom and I hope we can keep it like this for a while!!! So, now that the bathrooms are sparkling, I feel like the rest of the house should be sparkling! I've gotten out Peanut and Bubbie's fall and winter wardrobes and gone through those. Thankfully they are both set for the fall/winter. Peanut might need a coat, but I won't worry about that until the time comes. Georgia rarely gets cold enough for a heavy coat, so we can usually layer for a while. Then I put Baby Bean's crib bedding on the crib and have started a list of sewing projects and "needs" that need to be done in the "babies" room. Hopefully I can get it all done in the next week or two.

Update on my Bubbie. Bubbie is still a train man. Gosh golly, that is ALL we eat, sleep and breath! Thankfully I've gotten him hooked on Odyssey's, so at least he's getting A LITTLE variety! I couldn't help but laugh when the librarian nicely told Bubbie that he should brodden his horizons and maybe look for OTHER books besides Thomas the Tank Engine. This was AFTER he found out that other little kids might like Thomas just as much as he did, which might have been the reason why there were no Thomas books at the library that day. :( Poor, Poor Bubbie! He kept saying- "No little kids can't like it as much as I do!" Sometimes I wish I could let Bubbie in on a few secrets of the world in a nicer way, but other days- I'm just ready to be done with Thomas talk!

Update on my Peanut. Drum roll please..... my baby, yes, my 30th percentile PEANUT, precious momma's boy..... IS SLEEPING IN A TWIN SIZED BED. HA! Never, ever, EVER thought I would be posting this news so soon. Ya see, we have a double bed (Bubbie's in his room) and then a twin bed and a crib set up in the other bedroom. We had the twin bed set up for Bubbie when he and Peanut shared a room, but then realized that our Precious Peanut wasn't getting any sleep with his brother's tendencies to "play" a while after bedtime. So, we set up our double bed in the extra room and left the twin bed up in Peanut's room. Once we found out we were pregnant, the plan was to move Peanut into the twin bed, but as the time as passed, I really didn't think Peanut would be ready or able to stay in the twin bed. Ya see, my Peanut, he is quite the fearless creature and can get away with murder with a big grin and those sweet kisses. I just didn't think he was capable of obeying the rule of "staying in bed" at bedtime. I talked to several mothers and several of them were also in our boat- a less than 2 yr old and a new baby on the way. I had different opinions being thrown at me. I talked to Nana and she had another opinion and then Hubbie had his own opinion, so I really was conflicted. I finally told Hubbie that if we were gonna try this "switching" beds thing, we ought try it NOW. So one day, I decided, today's nap time was THE DAY. I talked about sleeping in a big boy bed and calmly did a routine- hugs and kisses, story, fan on, lights off and window blinds closed and I reassured him that all was okay and to stay in bed. I quickly left the room and waited. He began to cry and came out. I put him in his bed, without any words and left. This went on for about a hour or two. Finally, we had a sleeping boy. I wondered how long we could do this.... maybe a week! I wanted to give it our best shot and not give up too soon. I found out from a friend that we could always borrow one of her cribs, so I knew we had a back up plan if, after a week, we still had little to no success. That night went great. The next day's nap time, went great. He usually does need a time or two to be put back into bed. Some days are easier than others, but he's never fought it like it did the first nap day or had such issues like that first day. Hubbie and I have made a BIG deal about Peanut sleeping in the "big boy" bed. I probably just jinxed something and we'll have a week or two of bad sleeping, but- oh well- I'm proud of my Peanut who is still such a baby at 19 mos old and I kinda feel like a bad mommy for making him "grow up" too quickly.

Bubbie starts preschool on Monday and I'm excited. We changed his days from 5 to 3 for several different reasons. One being the pay cut. I didn't think we'd be able to afford it at all, but thankfully we will be able to. I also switched it because getting up and going every day by 9 o'clock was hard for a week of VBS and I didn't have a newborn. There were several mornings that Bubbie ate breakfast in the car and I hadn't showered and Peanut was still in his jammies. Now this might be the case for our family MANY days after Baby Bean shows up, but I also can do car line at preschool. At VBS, I didn't have a choice in the matter, I had to get EVERYONE out of the car, take Bubbie to his class and then pick him up, on the other side of town, just 3 short hours later.... so we were basically stuck out and about! Anyway, after doing that for the week, I knew I couldn't do that kind of schedule, with a newborn, for a year. The preschool was able to find an opening in the 3 day a week program and now we'll have Bubbie going to school 3 days, MOPS on all Tuesdays- 2 mtgs, a steering mtg and then a playdate on the last Tuesday and then Thursdays are gonna be our "at home- see NO ONE" days. We won't plan any actvities. We won't run any errands. We'll be AT HOME. I think this will be wonderful for Bubbie who so misses his days at home when we're going non-stop. Oh and we were able to keep Peanut in one-day-a-week mother's day out, so I'll have one of Bubbie's school days with Peanut at the same place. I am looking forward to spending those few hours running errands, coming home and cleaning or coming home and veggin' out with baby Bean!

Oh, I almost forgot, last thing, speaking of Baby Bean, two sweet gals are throwing me and Baby Bean a baby shower. I really REALLY hate being put on the spot and definitely do not like extra attention, but they insisted. This is baby no 3, so I really didn't even think about having a shower and especially since its baby no 3 boy! I really didn't know what I would even register for. Then we decided to go with cloth diapers, so I registered for those, bottles, bibs- just little things like that that you need- no matter how many kiddos you have! I am so excited about getting to see all my girlfriends and my Grandmother will even be in town! I wish my other SIL and other grandmother could be with me on that day too! That would make the day perfect!

So, I think that is about ALL our updates! Sorry its such a terribly long post and with NO pictures(Sorry BB and Granny!)!